10 MMA Maneuvers Wrestlers Should Use More Often

A banana split sounds delicious, no? Well, get ready, because this move has absolutely nothing to do with ice cream.

The Banana Split is an old amateur wrestling and MMA maneuver often used to transition into a pinning combination or held as a submission. Despite not being the most attractive move, the Split is a wicked one that shouldn't be overlooked by anyone. It doesn't require the most experienced performer to pull it off, and the visual agony of someone's groin in peril is clearly enough for any fan of nearly any age to understand.

If you're unacquainted with the stretch hold, you need to go no further than World Warriors Fighting Championship 14, in which Kirill Gorobets applies a devasting one to Gasan Azizov. The submission is difficult to watch even today, and it scored a first-round submission. Azizov tapped within mere seconds of the hold being applied.

Professional wrestling could benefit from using the Banana Split if executed properly. It shouldn't be used for comic relief, as it downplays the sheer terror you feel when you're on the wrong end of the move. Instead, since it's not difficult to understand how having your legs ripped apart in oppositedirections is painful, it should be a visual that leaves fans in suspense as they can (or can't) believe their superstar is (or isn't) tapping. And for those who don't tap, the submission can quickly be turned into a pinfall.